LLI GOLIN/NORMAN WELLS
Aviation gasoline is once again available in Norman Wells after Bassett Petroleum, Cooper Barging and NTCL delivered the load equivalent of three tanker trucks.

North-Wright Airways co-owner Warren Wright told News/North he's thrilled the two companies stepped in and prevented a serious shortage in the community.

"We have lots of gasoline now," he said. "Triple-fuel now."

The community was in danger of a shortage following a supply issue with Imperial.

At the time, spokeperson Killeen Kelly said that supplies were tight due to a storage issue.

Wright ended up purchasing the fuel from Imperial, but Bassett moved it for them. Wright said the shipment brought in by Cooper and NTCL was enough help Imperial resupply their tanks.

And while Norman Wells Mayor Gregor Harold McGregor said he noticed the Mackenzie River was about eight inches lower than normal this time of year, Wright said both delivery companies had no problems reaching his community.

"Actually, Cooper was three days ahead of schedule," he said. "We didn't expect them until July 6 and they showed up on July 3."

The amount brought in by Cooper and NTCL also means North-Wright will have enough fuel to last past the end of the summer.

The possibility of a shortage in Norman Wells arose last month when North-Wright and Buffalo Airways were given a week's notice that aviation fuel deliveries would be held up. The petroleum product, commonly known as avgas, is used by both companies.

In a previous interview, both Warren and Caroline Wright, who is Warren's wife and vice-president of North-Wright, pointed out that the shortage would likely affect Buffalo Airways the most. The airline frequently transports fresh products and other goods to the community each week using engines that use avgas.

"It really hits them hard," Warren had said.

Caroline Wright also pointed out that hunting season in the area was set to start in a few weeks and supplies would normally be transported on aircraft that use avgas.

Two-seater big-game "supercub" planes used to transport people to hunting camps in the remote Mackenzie mountains would also be affected by the fuel shortage.

As a result of this new supply, North-Wright no longer has to consider switching more deliveries to its turbine-engine aircraft. Previously, the Wrights admitted the cost of doing so would have been significantly higher, from $700 on its piston engines to $2,000, due to the larger-sized aircraft and higher amount of fuel required for operation.

Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya, who worked for Imperial for almost five years, told News/North companies in Norman Wells are still trying to figure out a long-term solution or alternatives, such as transporting the avgas by ice road during the winter. That may require North-Wright and Buffalo Airways invest into additional storage tanks.

But for now, both Yakeleya and Wright said that the price for the avgas offered by Bassett was pretty much on par with Imperial, which meant the cost of living in Norman Wells would pretty much stay the same as a result.

"Thank God for Bassett Petroleum and Cooper Barging," Yakeleya said. "They literally came to the rescue."

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